The Market Note
Treviso tardivo arrives, chestnuts run short
This week's note leads on one variety. The Radicchio Rosso di Treviso tardivo, the late radicchio with long white ribs and curling crimson leaves, is reaching the market now, after the blanching in spring water that gives it its crunch, and it is the line we would write onto a winter menu first. Coldiretti puts Italy's chestnut crop about a quarter down after the summer heat, so Christmas chestnuts are worth booking early. In Almería the pepper story runs into a third week, and at home October was warm, wet and sunny.
Region watch
Italy
Direction: Tightchestnuts & marroni
Coldiretti's first estimate puts Italy's 2026 chestnut crop about 25% down on 2025 after the summer heat, with quality expected to be excellent. Ismea had origin prices at €3.50/kg in early October, against about €2.13 a year before. For Christmas stuffing, soups and Mont Blanc, we would book chestnuts early.
As of Coldiretti, 10 Oct; Ismea, first week of Oct 2026
Source: prometeo.adnkronos.com, on chestnuts & marroni (opens in a new tab)
Veneto, Italy
Radicchio di Treviso tardivo
The Treviso radicchio consortium says the first tardivo of the season is reaching the market now, after blanching in spring water in the dark, which brings out its colour and crunch. Last season it certified 943 tonnes. Use it raw, grilled or stirred through a risotto.
As of consortium update, 2 Nov 2026
Source: informacibo.it, on Radicchio di Treviso tardivo (opens in a new tab)
Almería, Spain
Direction: Dearerpeppers, aubergines & courgettes
The pepper story runs into a third week: on 6 Nov red California averaged €2.80/kg on the Almería boards, and green California has followed it to €2.51, so the green swap saves little now. Long aubergines eased by about 30 cents to €0.66 and fine courgettes to €0.77, the gentler buys.
As of week to 6 Nov 2026
Source: fhalmeria.com, on peppers, aubergines & courgettes (opens in a new tab)
England
roots, leeks & winter brassicas
The Met Office has England's October provisionally 1.1°C above average with 112% of normal rain, most of it late, when Storms Austen and Boelo arrived; the UK's ninth warm month running. A mild, wet end to autumn tends to mean roots and leeks lifted in mud, so allow a little more for washing and trimming.
As of October 2026, provisional, published 2 Nov
Source: metoffice.gov.uk, on roots, leeks & winter brassicas (opens in a new tab)
In season now
- Radicchio di Treviso tardivo & Castelfranco
- Puntarelle & white chicory
- Italian chestnuts (a short crop this year)
- Brussels sprouts & sprout tops
- Leeks, celeriac & Jerusalem artichokes
- Parsnips & swede
- Savoy cabbage, kale & cavolo nero
- English apples & pears (Cox, Bramley, Comice)
- Clementines & satsumas
- Persimmons & pomegranates
- Bergamot from Calabria
- Winter wild mushrooms (pieds de mouton, trompettes)
On the way out
- Quince, into its last weeks
- Wild ceps and girolles, all but finished
In the kitchen
Radicchio di Treviso tardivo
Separate the tardivo into its long shoots, split the thicker ones and grill them hard with oil and salt until the white ribs soften and the tips crisp, then finish with aged balsamic or a little honey. Raw, the shoots stand up to anchovy, walnuts and a sharp dressing; the bitterness rounds out with fat.
Chestnuts
Score each chestnut across the flat side, roast at a high heat for about twenty minutes and peel while hot, wrapped in a cloth, since the inner skin clings once they cool. With a short crop, use them where they count: folded through Brussels sprouts with brown butter, or in a soup with celeriac.
Leeks
After a wet end to October, split leeks lengthwise down to the root and fan them under running water to clear the grit. Slice, then sweat slowly in butter with a pinch of salt and a splash of water until silky, and spoon under roast cod or fold through a risotto.
Worth buying
- Radicchio di Treviso tardivo — the first of the season, blanched and crisp
- Puntarelle — the Roman chicory, coming in for the winter
- Leeks & celeriac — in full season for the braise and the stock pot
- Slim courgettes — eased on the Almería boards this week
- Long aubergines — down by about 30 cents at Almería
Hold off
- Red & green California peppers — both near their highs at Almería
- Leaving chestnuts until December — Italy's crop is down by a quarter
